1. Use your mic and talk: Just having a voice can get people to do things!
   
2. Use your pings on enemies: The default keybind should be middle-mouse button. If you spot an enemy or a tank ping it out. Combine using your mic and your ping to help everyone fight better.
   
3. Listen to your squad: More importantly listen to your squad lead and try to do what he asks. If in doubt just...
   
4. Play the objective: Open your map and move to the objective/capture point. The objective is a black circle with lines running through it. Stay inside inside to capture/defend. This will win you the game.
   
5. You can change roles between lives: If there's a tank and no one is playing Anti-Tank, switch using the CHANGE ROLE button at the top right of spawn menu to have a chance at killing it. If squad leader needs supplies, play support and put down some supplies. You don't need to stick to one role.
   
6. Set your allied nameplate and icons to 500m: Immersion is not worth the friendly fire and resulting kick from the server. Once you're more comfortable with the game, try lowering to 250m or lowering opacity to 15-20%
   

• Have a mic and use it: Just having a voice will often get people to do things on top of your being "Squad Leader."
  
• Deploy outposts: Your "watch" on slot 6 of your loadout can put down outposts. These are squad-only spawn points you can put down anywhere (that's not too close to an enemy). Hold right-click to select a location then hold left-click to put it down.
  
• Deploy garrisons: From the same slot 6, you can put down a team-wide spawn point by holding right-click and mousewheel scrolling until you get to it. You need supplies (from support or commander abilities), it must not be within 200m of another garrison and it costs 50 supplies in friendly (blue) territory. You can also place a garrison in enemy (red) territory but it costs more and is riskier so leave that until you're comfortable with the game. You cannot place them in neutral (white) territory.
  
• Get your squad in the right roles: You need supplies? Bug a rifleman to change role to a Support. Tank ruining your day? Have a rifleman change to Anti-Tank.
  
• Remind your men of the objective: Do this every so often. Tell your squad to head towards an objective whether on attack or defense.
  
• Mark things on the map: Hold down the ping button for a radial menu, hover over the desired marker then release to place. The other squad leaders, Commander, and your squad will be able to see that marker and it lasts longer than a ping. You can also place markers by opening your map.

• Place resource nodes: Select your wrench and placeManpower/Munitions/Fuel Nodes blueprints. Then use your hammer to build it up, provided you have supply. Just having some nodes, even if they're the wrong type, is better than none.This will help your commander, and thus team, out immensely.
  
• Demand supplies: If there are no supplies then tell your squad or team. Supplies can come from a Support class, a Commander ability, or Supply Truck. If you don't ask for it chances are low you'll get some.

• Have a mic and use it: You're on a network with other squad leaders so tell them what to do or where to go. Don't want to drop bombs on your own guys unless you like seeing the, "Kicked for teamkilling," pop-up
  
• Use your commander abilities: When you open your map as a commander you have several abilities that can help your team. Select one, then click on the map and confirm your selection. If a squad leader asks for supplies to set up a garrison then send them supplies. If a tank squad wants a tank, call it in at one of the three HQ your start with.
  
• Make squads build resources nodes: Your call-in abilities and tanks are not cheap. Give them supplies and make them build nodes. Use your mic.
  
• Organise attack and defense: Not all squads should be attacking if you're losing a point. Call out individual squads leaders and tell them to defend a position.
  
• Build garrisons: You can build your own garrison like a squad lead can. Supply yourself with a call-in or truck, or command Support class nearby to help.
  
• Mark things on the map: Helps troops avoid armour or your own bombing runs.

Ok here's how you do it.

I hope you can drive stick because tanks do not have automatic transmission. I'm assuming default controls to get you rolling.

1. Start the engine with E
   
2. Shift up using the left Shift key into 1st
   
3. Rev up the engine with W until it's on the redline
   
4. Shift up to the next gear, repeat until you hit the speed desired
   
5. Down shift with left Ctrl key until you hit R to reverse

• Gearbox pattern is as follow: R (reverse) <-> P (parking) <-> 1 <-> 2 <-> 3 <-> 4
  
• Downshift when you need to turn or your revs have gone too low
  
• To turn you need to be at max rev, lower gear makes your turns tighter
  
• Most fences don't obstruct you so don't be afraid to try a difficult path
  
• Avoid hedges and trees.
  
• You have a machine gun on a mouse button. Use the tracers to aim.

• Your big gun has to be manually reloaded after each shot
  
• Your machine guns are on right mouse button
  
• WASD to aim your gun.
  
• AP is for use against tanks, HE is for infantry
  
• You have several levels of zoom, use it

Assuming you're the squad leader for armour

• Have a mic and use it, it's pretty much the only mandatory thing you need as a tank commander
  
• Ping enemies and high value targets
  
• If you have an SMG, don't be afraid to get out and shoot cheeky infantry sneaking up on your tank
  
• If you need repairs and/or ammo, the main HQ spawns usually have the facilities for it

• But what about artillery? Outside the scope of the basic gameplay of HLL. Might I recommend searching for an actual guide on artillery?
  
• What about recon? You're a two-man sniper team and playing effectively as recon means operating deep behind enemy lines taking out garrisons and outposts or spotting said structures so others can deal with it. Also artillery spotting, but let's be real, most just play so they can get the scoped rifle regardless of whether they contribute to the team or not.

I hope this has been more helpful that those dumb youtube video guides. I'm not asking you to like my guide but at least vote those down. A more comprehensive beginner's guide may be found here. Comments, questions, and example screenshots are welcome.